What to Do If You Suspect an Intruder in Your Home

It is the middle of the night. You hear a creak, a shuffle, or a door that should not be moving. Your heart jumps, and a scary question follows, is someone in my house? With a simple plan, you can protect yourself and your family without making the situation worse.

Step 1, Stay Calm, Stay Quiet, Stay Put

Take a slow breath. If you are already in a safe room, for example a bedroom with a lock, stay there and stay quiet.

• Lock the door if possible, and silence your phone.
• Get low behind cover, away from the doorway.
• Avoid noise, no yelling, no moving around the house.

The safest encounter is the one where the intruder never realizes you are there.

Step 2, Call 911 Immediately

Do not investigate. Call 911 as soon as you suspect an intruder.

• Give your exact address, where you are in the home, who is with you, and what you heard or saw.
• Use speaker mode at low volume, or whisper. If available in your area, text to 911 when speaking is unsafe.
• Stay on the line until the dispatcher says to hang up.

Step 3, Secure Your Space if It Is Safe To Do So

• Quietly lock interior doors and close windows that you can reach without leaving safety.
• Turn off lights in your room and silence any sound making devices.
• Consider a simple barricade, a heavy dresser or bed frame pushed against the door, only if this can be done quietly.

Step 4, If You Must Move, Gather Family and Exit Quietly

• Move quietly, use hand signals, avoid talking.
• Stay low and keep lights off while you move.
• Exit through a secondary door or window if you have a safe path to the outside. Go to a neighbor or another safe location and call 911.

Escape is safer than confrontation. Your goal is distance and safety, not catching someone.

Step 5, What Not To Do

• Do not confront the intruder. You do not know if they are armed or impaired.
• Do not shout to scare them off. This can escalate the situation.
• Do not search the home. Leave that to law enforcement.
• Do not assume it is nothing. If you are unsure, you are right to call 911.

Step 6, When Police Arrive

• Follow dispatcher instructions about when to come out.
• Keep hands visible, avoid sudden movements, and identify yourself loudly by name when directed.
• Point out hazards, weapons, or cameras only after officers secure the scene.

Step 7, After the Incident

• Document what happened, times, sounds, and any damage.
• Secure doors and windows, repair or upgrade locks, consider door reinforcements and window pins.
• Review your home security plan, alarm settings, exterior lighting, and camera coverage.
• Seek support if you feel shaken, stress reactions are normal after fear events.

Prevention Tips, Make Your Home a Harder Target

• Good locks, deadbolts on exterior doors, strike plate screws at least 3 inches, window locks and dowels for sliders.
• Lighting, motion lights at entries, keep shrubs trimmed for clear sightlines.
• Alarms and cameras, even basic systems deter and alert quickly.
• Noise makers, a barking dog or door chime adds warning time.
• Neighborhood network, know your neighbors, share contact info, report suspicious activity early.

Safety Skills That Carry Everywhere

The same calm decision making that protects you at home applies at work and in the community. Planning, practicing, and knowing when to call 911 builds confidence. To strengthen your skills across scenarios, explore our safety course catalog.

Wrapping It Up

• Stay calm, quiet, and in a secure room.
• Call 911, whisper or text if needed, stay on the line.
• Lock doors, turn off lights, and avoid confrontation.
• If safe, gather family and exit quietly to a secure place.
• Prevent future incidents with layered security and a simple plan.

References

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Personal Safety and Security, While at Home
• Federal Protective Service, DHS, Your Safety, Our Priority
• National Crime Prevention Council, Home and Neighborhood Safety Tips

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Atlantic Research Team

Editorial StaffAtlantic Training

The Atlantic Research Team is our in-house editorial staff. Content published under this name is a collaborative effort, written and reviewed by multiple safety and HR specialists to ensure all information is accurate, practical, and up to date.

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